Positioning means for hold-down

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for producing a folded tubular box from a box blank is provided with power driven means for adjusting the folding elements to operate on different size box panels. As the tubular boxes are produced, they are underfed into a stack and periodically a pile of boxes at the top of the stack is removed. While the boxes are in the stack, a hold-down means provides a downward force on the glue joint region connecting the inwardly folded panels of the box. A cable system interconnects the holddown means with the power driven means for adjusting the folding sections so that as the apparatus is adjusted for different size boxes, the hold-down means is automatically positioned to apply a downward pressure at the joint region.

United States Patent 1191 Flaum POSITIONING MEANS FOR HOLD-DOWN [75]Inventor: Stephen S. Flaum, New York, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: S&S Corrugated Paper Machinery Co;, Inc.,- Brooklyn, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Nov. 22, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 526,394

[52] U.S. Cl. 93/365; 93/49 R, 93/93 R [51] Int. Cl. B31B 3/74; B31B H98[58] Field of Search 93/49 R, 52 R, 36 R, 93 R,

93/94 PS, 93 DP, 36.3; 83/499, 501, 502,

504; 214/6 H, 6 S, 6 F; 53/387 [56] A References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 7 2,440,158 4/1948 Sly 83/504 x 3,601,265 8/1971 Shields'......-

Shields Hottendorf 93/49 R X Oct. 21, 1975 Primary Examiner-Roy Lake IAssistant ExaminerJames F. Coan Attorney; Agent, or Firm0strolenk,Faber,Gerb*& Soffen [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for producing a foldedtubular box from a box blank is provided with power driven means foradjusting the folding elements to operate on'different size box panels.As the tubular boxes are produced, they are underfed into a stack andperiodically a pile of boxes at the top of the stack is removed. Whilethe 1 boxes are in the stack, a hold-down means provides a downwardforce on the glue joint region connecting the inwardly folded panels ofthe box. A cable system interconnects the hold-down means with the powerdriven means for adjusting the folding sections so' that as theapparatus is adjusted for different size boxes,

' the hold down means is automatically positioned to apply a downwardpressure at the. joint region,

' 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures a. mm 0ct.21,1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,913,464

1 POSITIONING MEANSFOR HOLD-DOWN -the joint re gion of a foldedtubularbox as the apparatus is adjusted for different size boxes. 1

ln the A. F. Shields U.S. Pat. No. 2,982,189 issued May 2,-- l96l, for aPower Driven Adjusting Means For Slotting, Scoring, Creasing, andSlitting Machine, there is disclosed box making apparatus whichtransforms box blanks into folded tubular boxes and delivers theseboxesv in piles containing a predetermined number of boxes. Thetransformation from box blank to folded tu- 'bu-lar box requires thatoutboard panels of the blank be inwardly folded topositions where theoutboard or free edges of the blank are positioned at a joint regionwhere they are connected by taping or by, direct gluing.

In order to be able to produce different size boxes the panel foldingsections are laterally adjustable by powerdriven means. In the stackingand delivery section, there is a holddown means which must be maintainedin position to apply a downward force against the box at the jointregion thereof. Since the folded panels are usually of different widthsthe position of the joint region changes for different size boxes. Thus,positioning of the folding sections requires repositioning of thehold-down means.

When the operator is adjusting the folding sections, he is located at aposition very remote from the holddown means which is located in thestacking and delivery section. At this time the operators view of thehold down means is usually obscured and/or the operators concentrationon adjusting the folding sections causes him to temporarily forget theexistence of the holddown means. Due to the foregoing circumstances, itoften happens that the power driven movable frame, carrying a foldingsection, engages and thereby damages the hold-down means. Even when thehold-down means is not damaged, the operator must go to the opposite endof the apparatus and reposition the holddown means.

To eliminate this problem and effort, the prior art as exemplified bythe A. F. Shields U.S. Pat. No. 3,618,479 for an Automatic PositionerFor Hold-Down Means utilizes a differential gearing unit which provides'driving mechanical connections between the hold-down means and thefolding sections so that as the folding sections are adjusted theposition of the holddown means is automatically adjusted in a mannersuch the differential gearing system of the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No-3,618,479 for automaticallypositioning the hold-down means.

Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is to providenovel means 'for automatically posihold-down means is automaticallyadjusted as the positions of the folding sections are adjusted.

Still another object is to provide a cable system which drivinglyinterconnects power adjusted folding sections to automatically poweradjust the hold-down means.

These objects as well as other objects of this invention will becomereadily apparent after reading the following description of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of box making apparatus constructed inaccordance with teachings of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the changes in the condition of theentering blank as various operations are performed thereon until suchblank emerges as a folded tubular box.

FIG. 3 is a perspective of the cutting section, gluing section, foldingsection, and stacking and delivery sections of the automatic apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the cable system for automaticallypositioning the hold-down means.

Now referring to the figures, automatic box making machine comprisesfeed-in section 11 adapted to a feed individual sheets S of cardboard orcorrugated tioning the hold-down means of a stacking and'deliverysection at the feed-outend of box'makin'g apparatus. Another object isto provide novel and relatively inexpensive means interconnecting thehold-down means with the folding sections'so that the position of theboard, merely having transverse score lines 80, 81 thereon, from stack99 into cutting section 100. A first group of laterally aligned cuttingheads of cutting section simultaneously applies longitudinal score lines82-84 and crushes areas 85, 86 of sheet S. The term longitudinal refersto the direction of blank movement through machine 10. Thereafter, asecond group of laterally aligned cutting heads of cutting section 100slots sheet S at 94-97 and trims at 88 to form box blank B. For detailsof the heads in cutting section 100 and the head adjusting means,reference is made to the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 2,982,189.

Box blank B passes from cutting section 100 to gluing folding section300 where glue is applied to crushed lap 89 and panels 90, 91 .arefolded over with crushed area 86 overlying glued lap 89, thereby forminga folded tubular box T. Folded tubular box T then enters stackingsection 400 to become the bottom box T of stack 92 from which pusher 401removes pile 93 containing a predetermined number of folded tubularboxes T. In stacking section 400, hold-down means 450 thereof applies adownward force on the top of stack 92 at the joint region where lap 89overlies panel 91. For details of hold-down means 450, reference is madeto the A.

. F. Shields U.S. Pat. No. 3,601,265 for a Blank Stacking,Straightening, and Delivery Means.

Feed-in section 11 comprises bed 12, whereon stack 99 of sheets S isplaced between the rear 13 and front 14 gauges. The bottom blank instack 99 is fed towards the right, by reciprocating feed slat 15,through space 16 below the front gauge 14. Space 16 is so adjusted thatit is just high enough to permit one of the sheets S to pass throughwhile holding back the remainder of stack 99. As sheet S passes throughopening 16, sheet S passes between upper and lower feed rollers 17 and18, respectively, which engage sheet S and drive it forward into cuttingsection 100 where sheet S is transformed into box blank B.

Cutting section 100 comprises stationary frame members 101, 102 betweenwhich the cutting heads are positioned. Reference to'a cutting head inthis specification isintended to designate a head which performs any oneof the operations necessary to transform sheet S into box blank-B. Thatis, a cutting head may score,

trim, slit, slot and/or crush.

Support rods 103-106 extend transversely. across the feed path of sheetS and are secured at the ends thereof to frame stationary members 101,102. Carriers 107-110 are slidably mounted on support rods 103-106.Each'carrier comprises an upper and a lower part with the upper partbeing supported by rods 103,

with threaded members (not shown) secured to carri- I ers 107-109.Similarly, lateral movement of the lower parts of carrier'l07-l10 andtheirassociated cutting heads is achieved by means of lead'screws143-146, respectively, mating with appropriately threaded memberssecured to the respective carriers 107-110. The

lateral adjustment of the upper and lower parts of each carrier occurssimultaneously and to the same degree to assure proper alignment betweenthe cutting blades,

for each set of cutting heads.

Box blank B is'ejected from cutting section 100 and engaged by movingconveyor belts 301, 302 beneath sets of rollers 304-307. Glue stored indrum 308 is fed through tube 309 to glue applying means 310 where:gluing roller 311"applies glue to flap-89 as it is backed up by roller312. Thereafter, blank B is engaged by moving folding belts 313, 314,which gradually fold outboard panels 90, 91 of blank B'along score lines97 and 95, respectively, until crushed area 86 is in contact with gluedflap 89. Roller sets 304 and 305 assist folding belts 313, 314 as theyinitially engage blank B, to produce the folds along score lines'97 and-95.

Roller sets 304,306 are mounted to member 315 which depends from anupper longitudinal frame member (not shown) secured at one end of theupper part of carrier 108, thereby moving laterally therewith. Similarlyroller sets 305, 307 are mounted to another longitudinal frame member(not shown) which in turn is secured at one end of the upper part ofcarrier 109 to move laterally in unison therewith. Adjustable struts(not shown), similar to extensions 398, 399, secure member 316 to upperlongitudinal frame member 326. Lower longitudinal frame members317, 318are secured to the lower parts of carriers 108, 109, respectively, tomove laterally in unison therewith.

Idler rolls 319, to guide conveyor belt 301, as well as drive roll 320,are mounted on frame member 317. Similarly, idler rolls 322, which guidebelt 302, as well as roll 321 for driving belts 302 are mounted on frame318. Drive rolls 320, 321 are also keyed to drive shaft 350 for rotationtherewith, but are movable axially with respect thereto. Stationaryframe members 352, 353

support drive shaft-350 at the ends thereof.

' Folding belts 313, 314 are twisted and extend between drivingrolls327, 328'and idler rolls329, 330, which are mounted to lower framemembers317, 318, respectively. Folding belts 313, 314 also follow a pathdefined by conical idlers 331, 332, respectively, which are mounted tolower frame members 317, 318. Drive rollers 327, 328 are keyed to driveshaft 351 for rotation therewith, but are movable axially with respectthereto. Stationary frame members 352, 353 support quite often segmentalblades, and their mating member drive shaft '351 at the ends thereof.Straightening rolls 333, secured to lower frame members 317, 318, serveto bring the fold lines into parallelism'so that a perfect box will beformed from the folded tubular box T.

'Thefolded tubular box Tis passed from gluing, folding section 300 tostacking section 400where folded box T is received by conveyor 404 andpassed between vertically moving belts 402, 403'which convey folded boxT upward to the undersideof stack 92. Pusher 401, secured to assembly405 traveling on overhead chains 406, 407, periodically removes pile 93,having a predetermined number of folded tubular boxes T,from the top ofstack 92 and passes pile 93 to a conveyor for bundling.

Stack 92 is subjected to a downward force by holddown means 450, whichapplies such force at the joint region where flap 89 of panel is gluedto crushed section 86 of panel 91. Briefly, hold-down means 450 includeslower section 451 pivotally connected to support plate 452 by arm 453.The upper section includes elongated metal slat 455, hinged at its rearend to support 452 and carrying roller 456 at a location forward ofsupport plate 452. The latter is fixedly secured to the lower surface ofsupport block 457, which is slidably mounted on stabilizing rods 458,460 that'extend between stationary frame members 352 and 353.

Drive motor 40 is operatively connected to main drive shaft 41 whichextends from one set of stationary frame members 101, 102 to the otherset 352, 353.

Through appropriate gearingand chain connections, well known in the art,driving power necessary toconvey blanks B through automatic machinery 10is supplied tothe various sections thereof 11, 100, 300, 400

' so that the blanks B move therethrough with a continuous movement.Each carrier 107-110 is power driven for lateral adjustment of itsassociated cutting heads, by means of an individual motorselectivelycontrollable from a control panel located in the region ofcutting section 100. For purposes of explaining the instant invention,the adjustment of movable frame members 107, 110 need not, and will not,be described.

Motors 502, 503 for adjusting movable frame members 108, 109 are mountedin an elevated position on top of tower 520. Sprocket wheels 521 and 522are both keyed to motor shaft 523 while sprocket wheels 524 and 525 areboth keyed to motor shaft 526. Chain 530 is driven by sprocket wheel 521and in turn drives a sprocket wheel (not shown) which is keyed to shaft532 secured to stationary support member 101. Sprocket wheel 533 isalso, keyed to shaft 532 and drives chain 534. Chain 534 is inengagement with sprocket wheels 535, 536 which are keyed to lead screws133, 144, respectively. It is now apparent that rotation of motor 502will cause rotation of lead screws 133, 144 which in turn willbringabout equal lateral movements of the upper and lower parts ofcarrier 108. The longitudinal frame members secured at their left endsto carrier 108 will automatically receive the proper lateral adjustmentat their left ends.

However, these longitudinal frame members are very long so thatlateral'movement of one end thereof will not necessarily be accompaniedby an equal lateral movement of the other-end. Therefore, chain 540extends to the right and is driven by sprocket wheel 522. Chain 540 inturn engages and drives sprocket wheel 541 whichis keyed to shaft 542mounted on stationary frame member 352. Sprocket wheel 543 is also keyedto shaft 542 and drives chain 544 which in turn drives sprocket wheels545, 546 (FIG. 1). Sprocket wheels 545, 546 are keyed to lead screws596, 597 that are in driving engagement with upper and lowerlongitudinal frame members 325, 317 extending from carrier 108.

Shafts 392-395, supported at their ends by stationary members 352, 353,support and journal the movement of the right ends of theselongitudinalframe members. In this manner equal lateral movements ofthese upper and lower longitudinal frame members, as well as equallateral movements of both ends thereof, is assured.

Similarly, sprocket wheel 525 drives chain 550 which engages sprocketwheel 551 keyed to shaft 552 near one end thereof. The ends of shaft 552are journalled in stationary frame members 101, 102 while sprocket wheel553 is keyed to shaft 552 near the other end.

thereof. Chain 554 is driven by sprocket wheel 553 and in turn drivessprocket wheels 554, 555 which are keyed to lead screws 135, 145,respectively. Rotation of motor 503 causes movement of chain 550 whichin turn causes rotation of shaft 552, movement of chains 554, rotationof sprocket wheels 554, 555, rotation of trated as being spaced by adistance C from fixed longitudinally extending reference line 98 onwhich score line 83 always lies. Thus, the distance C equals thedifference between the width of panels 90 and 91.

The position of folding belt 313 with respect to reference line 98 isdictated by the position of score line 84,

which in turn is dictated by the width N of narrower lead screws 134,145 and finally equal lateral movements of the upper and lower parts ofcarrier 109 and its associated cutting heads.

Since carrier parts 109 carry another set of upper and lowerlongitudinal frame members 326, 318, they too will be laterally adjustedat one of their ends. The other ends of these longitudinal frame membersare positively moved by means of chain 560 which is driven by sprocketwheel 524. Chain 560 drives sprocket wheel 561, which is keyed to shaft562 whose ends are journalled in stationary support members 352, 353.

Sprocket wheel 563 is also keyed to shaft 562 and drives chain 564 whichin turn drives sprockets 565, 566 keyed to lead screws 567, 568,respectively. Lead screws 567, 568 are operatively engaged (not shown)with upper 326 and lower 318 longitudinal frame members, respectively,for lateral adjustment of the right ends thereof journalled on shafts592-595.

Ends 601, 607 of drive cable 602 are anchored, respectively, to uppermovable frame 325 and support block 457 of hold-down means 450. Cable602 passes around guide pulley 603, anchored to stationary frame 352,and also around section 604 of movable pulley or guide means 606. Guidecable 608 passes around one pulley section 609 of movable guide means610 and is anchored at opposite ends 631, 632 thereof to stationaryframe 352 and movable frame 325, respectively. Ends 613, 617 of drivecable 615 are anchored, respectively, to support block 457 and uppermovable carrier 326. Cable 615 passes around the other section 611 ofmovable guide 610 and around pulley 616, anchored to stationary frame353. Ends 621, 622 of guide cable 623 are anchored, respectively, tomovable frame 326 and stationary frame 353 after passing around onepulley section 605 of movable guide means 606.

As will hereinafter be seen, the rotation of folding belt adjustingshafts 542, 562 is effective to automatically operatively positionhold-down means 450 so that it always exerts a downward force in thejoint region where glued lap 89 engages panel 91. That is, panels 91 and91 are of equal widths and panels 90 and 90' are of equal widths. Thewidth of narrow panel 90 is indicated as being equal to N in therighthandmost illustration of FIG. 2, while the width of wide panel 91is illustrated as being equal to W. Joint region 89' is illuspanelSimilarly, the position of the other folding belt 314 is dictated by theposition of score line 82, which in turn is controlled by the width W ofthe larger panel 91.

Rotation of shaft 542 to adjust the position of folding belt 313 causestransverse movement of upper movable frame 325. If this movement is tothe right with respect to FIG. 4, it will be transmitted directlythrough drive cable 602 to move support block 457 the same distance tothe right. As movable frame 325 moves to the right, moving support block457 to the right, end 613 of drive cable 604 is permitted to move to theright in that movable guide 611 also, moves to the right in that end 631of guide cable 601 also moves to the right. If movement of movable frame325 is to the left with respect to FIG. 4, end 631 of guide cable 608moves tothe left, carrying movable guide 611 to the left. This causesend 613 of cable 615 to move to the left, carrying block 457 to theleft. Cable 602 moves clockwise so that slack does not develop in any ofthe cables in the system. Similar operations occur when upper movableframe 326 is adjusted transversely through the rotation of shaft 562.

Although there have been described preferred embodiments of this novelinvention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited notby the specific disclosure herein but only by the appending claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege orproperty is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In box makingapparatus the combination comprising a first section fortransforming box blanks into folded tubular boxes and a second sectionfor forming boxes received from said first section into a stack andperiodically removing piles of boxes from the stack; said first sectionincluding conveyor means for moving blanks and folded tubular boxesalong a feed path extending parallel .to' a reference line; said firstsection also including first and second folding portions on oppositesides of said reference line for inwardly folding respective first andsecond outboard panels of box blanks along first and second score linesthereof to positions where the outboard edges of said blank are injuxtaposition at a jointarea; said first and second score lines beingparallel to said reference line and being spaced therefrom by first andsecond distances, respectively; said second section including ahold-down means for applying downward pressure to the stack at the jointregion; first and second adjusting means for positioning the respectivefirst and second folding portions transversely in relation to saidreference line in accordance with the respective first and seconddistances; and a cable system connecting both of said folding portionsto said hold-down means to move the latter transverse to said referenceline to automatically maintain said hold-down means at said joint areaas said joint region shifts with changes in said first and seconddistances.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, in which the joint area isspaced from said reference line by a third distance equal to said firstdistance minus said second distance.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, in which 4. The combinationas set forth in claim 1 in which the cable system includes a first drivecable anchored to said hold-down means and said first folding portion, afirst fixed guide for said first drive cable secured to a firststationary area outboard of said first folding portion, a first movableguide for said first drive cable, a second drive cable anchored to saidhold-down means and said second folding portion, a second fixed guidefor said second drive cable secured to a second stationary area outboardof said second folding portion, a second movable guide for said seconddrive cable, a first guide cable supporting said first movable guide andanchored to said second folding portion and said second stationary area,and a second guide cable supporting said second movable guide andanchored to said first folding portion and said first stationary area!5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 in which the first foldingportion is disposed between the holddown means and the first stationaryarea, said second folding portion being disposed between the hold-downmeans and the second stationary area.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 in which thefirst movableguide is positioned between the holddown means and the firstfoldingportion, said second movable guide being positioned between the holddownmeans and the second folding portion.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6, in which the joint area isspaced from said reference line by a third distance equal to said firstdistance minus said second distance.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7, in which the first distanceis larger than said second distance and the joint region is between saidreference line and said first score line.

UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,913,464 Dated October 21, 1975 Inventor(s) Stephen llaum It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In column 8, line 10 replace "first" by --second--.

In column 8, line 12 replace "second" by -first--.

Signed and Scaled this First D y Of March 1977 [SEAL] A tlest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner oflaremsand Trademarks

1. In box making apparatus the combination comprising a first sectionfor transforming box blanks into folded tubular boxes and a secondsection for forming boxes received from said first section into a stackand periodically removing piles of boxes from the stack; said firstsection including conveyor means for moving blanks and folded tubularboxes along a feed path extending parallel to a reference line; saidfirst section also including first and second folding portions onopposite sides of said reference line for inwardly folding respectivefirst and second outboard panels of box blanks along first and secondscore lines thereof to positions where the outboard edges of said blankare in juxtaposition at a joint area; said first and second score linesbeing parallel to said reference line and being spaced therefrom byfirst and second distances, respectively; said second section includinga hold-down means for applying downward pressure to the stack at thejoint region; first and second adjusting means for positioning therespective first and second folding portions transversely in relation tosaid reference line in accordance with the respective first and seconddistances; and a cable system connecting both of said folding portionsto said hold-down means to move the latter transverse to said referenceline to automatically maintain said hold-down means at said joint areaas said joint region shifts with changes in said first and seconddistances.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, in which thejoint area is spaced from said reference line by a third distance equalto said first distance minus said second distance.
 3. The combination asset forth in claim 2, in which the first distance is larger than saidsecond distance and the joint region is between said reference line andsaid first score line.
 4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 inwhich the cable system includes a first drive cable anchored to saidhold-down means and said first folding portion, a first fixed guide forsaid first drive cable secured to a first stationary area outboard ofsaid first folding portion, a first movable guide for said first drivecable, a second drive cable anchored to said hold-down means and saidsecond folding portion, a second fixed guide for said second drive cablesecured to a second stationary area outboard of said second foldingportion, a second movable guide for said second drive cable, a firstguide cable supporting said first movable guide and anchored to saidsecond folding portion and said second stationary area, and a secondguide cable supporting said second movable guide and anchored to saidfirst folding portion and said first stationary area.
 5. The combinationas set forth in claim 4 in which the first folding portion is disposedbetween the hold-down means and the first stationary area, said secondfolding portion being disposed between the hold-down means and thesecond stationary area.
 6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 inwhich the first movable guide is positioned between the hold-down meansand the first folding portion, said second movable guide beingpositioned between the hoLd-down means and the second folding portion.7. The combination as set forth in claim 6, in which the joint area isspaced from said reference line by a third distance equal to said firstdistance minus said second distance.
 8. The combination as set forth inclaim 7, in which the first distance is larger than said second distanceand the joint region is between said reference line and said first scoreline.